Collar apparatus for cementing casings in wells



F. H. LEE 2,531,943 com APPARATUS Fon cmaENTING cAsINGs 1N wELLs I Nov. 28, 1950 Filed Feb. 24, 1947 ya@ f Mm Armin/m Patented Nov. 28, 1950 COLLAR APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING CASINGS IN WELLS Francis Hampton Lee, San Pedro, Calif., assig'nor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California Y Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,347

' 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus adapted to be connected in a casing, liner or similar conduit string as a component thereof, and more particularly to such apparatus vembodying side ports capable of being opened and closed through manipulation of the conduit string.

. It is an object of the present invention to provide side ported apparatus adapted to form part of a casing or similar conduit string, whose side ports are capable of being opened and closed by straight-line longitudinal movement of the cas,- lng string, and whose side ports can also be closed by rotation ofthe casing string, being maintained in such closed position regardless of subsequent movement of the casing string in either longitudinal direction.

This invention has other objects and aspects which will become apparent from a consideration but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limited sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of an apparatus frming Vf .part of a casing string, with its parts in port closing. position.

' Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of the V apparatus, with its parts in port opening position.

y liners and similar conduit strings as well.

The collar apparatus A includes an upper tubular member I adapted to be threaded onto an upper casing section B and an adjacent lower tubular member I I adapted to be threaded on or within a lower casing section C. The two members are held in assembled relation by an outer sleeve I2, which has a straight threaded con-- nection I3 (preferably righthand) with the upper member I Il and a slidable spline connection with the lower member provided by a pair of opposed longitudinal slots I4 in the sleeve adapted to receive keys I5 suitably secured, as by the use of therein, andas determined by the threaded posi- Y of the embodiment shown in the drawings accom- ;panying and forming part of the present spcciflcation. This form will now be described in detail,

tion of the upper ltubular member III within the sleeve I2. The downward position of the sleeve along the upper member I 0 is limited by engagement of an inner stop ring I l, welded within the upper end of the sleeve i2, with an external shoulder I8 on the upper member.

.The lower tubular member IIis provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged side ports I9 extending through a downwardly and inwardly tapered external shoulder or abutment portion 20 of the lower member, which provides a tapered shoulder or seatv adapted to cooperate with a companion internally tapered shoulder or abutment 2| on the sleeve I2. The latter member has aplurality of circumferentially arranged outer ports 22 disposed above its tapered portion 2| and adapted to be moved into and out of communicating relation with respect to the inner ports I9, thus determining the ability of uids to pass between the interior and exterior of the colla i' apparatus through the two 4sets of ports.

Suitable side seals 23, 24 are provided on the upper and lower members I0, II within respective peripheral grooves 25, 26, which areengageable with the interior of the sleeve I2 in order to prevent leakage in an upward direction from the interior of the apparatus between the sleeve I2 and uppery member I0, and in a downward direction from the interior of the apparatus between the lower member II and sleeve I2. 'I'he upper and lower members I 0, II have cooperable inwardly and downwardly tapered seats 21, 28 adapted to engage or abut. f

The collar apparatus AV is assembled with the outer sleeve I2 threaded downwardly along the upper member II) to its fullest extent, governed by engagement of the stop ring I1 with the outer member shoulder I8. The lower tubular member II may hang from the outer sleeve with its upper end 28 spaced downwardly from the cooperable end 2l of the upper member I0, by virtue of engagement between its tapered shoulder or seat 20 with the companion tapered shoulder or seat 2i on the outer sleeve. When the tapered shoulders 20, 2I engage, the ports I9 are closed and the keys I5 occupy a lower position within the slots I4. The apparatus A is connected to the upper and lower casing sections B, C and is run in pass in either direction between the interior and 5" abutting seating surfaces 20,' 2 l through and beyond the apparatus vA and for ejec tion from the casing string at some lowerfpoin as from a casing shoe (notshownlwhereupon the" jwcement slurry passes upwardly, through the a 'nulas around the lower portionofthe S.

.- -to .the desired elevation.- fFollowing theihardonf. i ing ofthe lower charge ofcementlthe lower portion of the casing stringandthe lower member LI Iattached 'thereto are prevented from'longitudi-y `member il and outerls'ieeves 2 connected'thereto the weil bore. as a part o1' the casingfsi'fli h 8 t0 alongthe upper body I0 not only provides a ilrm the desired depth. Sincethe weight of thesesf cntactbetween the tapered `surfaces 20, 2i across ing sections below the apparatus maintains thev the inner ports Il, but also provides a drm downtapered seats 2l, 2I in engagement, iluid cannot'. i, ward kmetallic engagement between the ends 2l, 2 ljofi-the upper and lower membersi', il. As a result the rotation of the casing string to close the ports Il effects a firm and immovable coupling between the upper member Il, sleeve I2 and lower member II,- preciuding further relative longitudinal movement from occurring. That is, after the outersieeve I2 has been threaded upwardly to z the ports It and the upper and lower memberslll, II engage.,` longitudinal movement of the casing string isincapable of opening .the ports .since the parts all move in unison.

Hthe event that the ports I9 are to be opened r closed without cementing the lower portion thecasing string', such action can still occur ugh setting of the lower end of the casing g' on the bottom ci' the well bore, which then permit theproper telesooping action the outer sleeve vI2 along the lower member take piace, producing substantial alignentof the inner andouter ports I9, 22. Thereafter, the ports I9 cannbeclosed through rotaexterior of the apparatusthroughgtheIt, zz. in view o: the metauicseal. furnished by:

In the event that it is desired'to' .cement 1the casing string in the wellblfefgbelowjthe'goolla circulating i'iuid followed ,by vserpent slurry'maybe pumped directly into the casing -stringtor passage .straight-'linezlog'itudinal movement or lowering' "finti gf .the easing lstring from the top of the well "fot the casingstring, untilgthe onplose'il ends 21, :l: l of the upper nd'lowel members' L- nsaei tween the casin strln belo the wnicnposmouthe port closing surisees zc, z|, g vg W apparatus-and' havebeenseparated from one anotherand the :30

bore. Ordinarily, ,there is s ulcient friction bethe wall of the formation to resist rotation of Vthel ai i outer osnhave been brought mwsubsmntml ower c s ng string andthe lower tubular I raamwerk'which-'amdmaymsstfromf-ihe 111- f directly z fwa'rdipssasiefthroush upward flowing apparatus s end -Y'upperf'polttf string; Meer the desire slurryhas been ejectedl through` .the openports, they may be closed through reelevatins the casing f stringjwhich again engages. thejsealing surface 2l. 2i and closes the ports i9, Port closingicanai,

string at the top of the wen. here# 'me-spline the sleeve' I2'along` the"upper member I0, and also along the 'lower memberil, into port closim with.

i uid leakage therethrough. Howsteep taper might produce inward edgingoI-thelower member II if too great casing-load Ais suspended therefrom, or if too great a :torque is imposed on the threaded conlnl'ection Il. Such swedging possibility is pre- '1' h @sin c uddby so proportioning the location of the also be enected'thmugh mtmn of t e g I 5 within the slots Il that the lower ends onnectionrovided b the keys Ii'andslots Il "i" I5 gf the keys are Closely adjacent the lower greventsroftion 'of e guter sleeve lz withgre.. Ila of the slots when the tapered surfaces spect to the lower member II, which is held'fromoq ign engage- Abnl'mal lOding 0f Such Surturning' bythe lower charge *of cement. Ac y' fes thIfQllSh the tensile Strain o n the sleeve I2 cordingly, rotation of the upper portion of the and yI ower member Il will engage the ends I5a casing 'stringtot'he right rotates-the uppertubular` g ci .the/keys with the slot ends Ma and relieve member Il and causes upward feeding ofthe outer-- the tapered surfaces 20, 2i cipal-t of the load, sleeve I2 (in view of the righthand threaded con'-y 55' which part is then transmitted between the lower nection) along the lower member Il and upper memberf-fII-and sleeve I2 through the key and member I0 until the internal tapered seat 2I'is siotconnection I5, I4, instead 'of through the again engaging the external tapered seat 2l', which tapered V(ro-engaging seats 2li, 2i.v provides a metallic seal closing the inner ports I9. it isapparent that a well cementing appara- Continued rotation of the casing"string threads so tushas beenfprovided in which the'ports I9 can the upper member I0 down within the sleeve I2 beopened or closed simpl'ythrough straight-line untilits lower end 21 abuts the upper' end2`0 oi." 1 longitudinal movement 'of lthe casingstring, and the lower member II. The fact ofport closing "-l th :ports-may be closed permanently against and engagement oi the members IB, 'I I- with each l; ,.reo ningthrough rotation oi thecasing string, other is transmitted to the operator at the top 65 as V the right, which. effectively. clamps the of the well bore through his inability'to further portions of the collar apparatus Atogether and rotate the casing string. Y l'prevent's their relative longitudinal movement, The sealing surfaces 20, 2l and abutting ends thusfholdlng'the ports in the desired closed 21, 28 may be engaged firmly by the threaded position. action between the sleeve I2 and upper' member 70 {Hayip'g thus described my invention, what, I III. since a large mechanical advantage results claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: from the use of the threads Il in'eiecting up- "1.;Apparatus of the character described, inward longitudinal movement ot the outer sleeve y cluding a first tubular member having a side I2 and downward movement of the upper mem* Dort and adapted for connection to a casing secber I0. Such threading action of the sleeve It 75 tion of a casing string positionabie in a wen bore,

u tityof cement!` a second tubular member adapted for connection to another casing string section, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port, means providing a connection between one of said members and said sleeve for effecting relative longitudinal movement of said sleeve along said one of said members upon relative rotation between said members, and means providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and the other of said members.

2. Apparatus of the character described, including a first tubular member having a side port and adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string postionable in a well bore, a second tubular member adapted for connection to another casing string section, a sleeve onv the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port, means providing a connection between one of said members and said sleeve for effecting. relative longitudinal movement of said sleeve along said one of said members upon relative rotatie-n between said members, Ameans providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and the other of said members, abutment means on said sleeve, abutment means on said other of said members, said abutment means engaging each other to place said sleeve in closed position over said port.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including a first tubular member having a side port and adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string postionable in a well bore, a

second tubular member extending from said first member and adapted for connection to another casing string section, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port, means providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and said rst member, means providing a connection between said second member and said sleeve for effecting longitudinal movement of said sleeve along said second member in response to rotation of said second member, and cooperable shoulders on said iirst member and sleeve engageable with each other to place said sleeve in closed position over said port.

4. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper tubular member adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string postionable in a well bore, a lower tubular member extending from said upper member and adapted for connection to another casing string section, said lower member having a side port, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port, means providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and lower member, means providing a threaded connection between said upper member and sleeve whereby said sleeve is moved longitudinally along said upper member in response to rotation of said upper member, and cooperable shoulders on said lower member and sleeve engageable with each other to place .said sleeve in closed position over said port.

5. Apparatus of the character described, including an upper tubular member adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string postionable in a well bore, a lower tubular member adapted to abut said upper member and connectible to another casing string section, said lower member having a side port, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said ports, cooperable shoulders on said lower member and sleeve engageable with each other to piace said sleeve in closed position over said port, means providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and lower member, and means providing a threaded connection between said upper member and sleeve wherebyA said sleeve is moved upwardly along said upper member in response to rotation of said upper member to engage said shoulders and to abut said upper and lower members with one another.

6. Apparatus of the character described, including a first tubular member adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string positionahle in a well bore, a second tubular member adapted to abut said first member and coninectible to another casing string section, said second member having a side port, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port,cooperable shoulders on said second member and sleeve engageable with each .other to place said sleeve in closed position over said port, means providing a slidable spline connection between said sleeve and second member. and means providing a threaded connection between said rst member and sleeve whereby said sleeve is moved upwardly along said rst member in response to rotation of said rst member to engage said shoulders and to abut said iirst and second members with one another.

7. Apparatus of the character described, including a iirst tubular member having a side port and adapted for connection to a casing section of a casing string postionable in a. well bore, a second tubular member adapted to abut said first member andv connectible to another casing string section, a sleeve on the exterior of said members for opening and closing said port,

cooperable shoulders on one of said members and sleeve engageable with each other to place said sleeve in closed position over said port, means providing a slidable spline connection between one of said members and said sleeve, and means providing a connection between the other of said members and sleeve whereby said sleeve is moved longitudinally along said other of said members` in response to rotation of said other of said members to engage said shoulders and to abut said first and second members withone another.

FRANCIS HAMPTON LEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,214,555 Hayward Sept. 10, 1940 2,379,079 Hayward June 26, 1945 

